Correct Weight Handling

Tips & Tricks

12 Practical Tips

How you handle, clean and store test weights can make a sizeable
difference in the ongoing accuracy of your weighing processes.

Considerable weighing errors can arise if you use a balance tested with mishandled refer-
ence weights. The percentage mass variation becomes particularly critical when using small
weights or working with tight tolerances.

This paper describes actions you can take to ensure your reference weights maintain accuracy
long-term. This accuracy will help you avoid weighing errors and costs associated with re-
work, waste disposal, and product recall.

Correct weight handling with carbon-tipped tweezers


Introduction
Weights are the most important
equipment used for calibration and
testing of scales and balances.
Weights external to the balance are
used for scheduled periodic routine
testing of the balance. This requires
manually handling a set of test
weights suitable for the balance be-
ing tested.
Anytime external weights are used,
handling and storage becomes crit-
ical. A mere brush of the hand can
negatively affect both the mass of
the test weight and routine testing
results (see Figure 1). This in turn
results in a false rejection of the
balance or incorrectly formulated
products which may pose a health
risk, necessitating costly rework or
recall efforts.
Our list of suggestions follows.
First, we present how weights
should be handled, then move on
to review actions that should not be
taken if you want to maintain the
integrity and accuracy of weights,
regardless of size or material.
Use original packaging to store weights whenever possible
Actions that keep weights clean and accurate
1. Store weights in original
packaging
Did your weights come in an ap-
propriate carrying case? Use it. It
will keep your weights from gath-
ering dust, and padded resting
places for weights of different sizes
will help prevent mix-ups. Per OIML
R 111-1:2004, using a specialized
storage case is most important
for weights under 500 g. Larger
weights can be stored in clean
spaces with suitable covering. If
weights are out of their case or
stored under a bell jar, they should
rest on sheets of clean, acid-free
tissue (rather than on the base of
the jar itself).
2. Store weights near the
balance
Storing weights near the balance
where they will be used helps to
ensure that both the balance and
weights are similarly acclimatized.
If you must bring the weights from
a storage area to the balance, al-
low sufficient time for them to come
to a similar state. Acclimatization
will require more time if weights are
larger and have been in an area
with dissimilar characteristics, such
as carried outside on a cold winter
day. For recommended thermal
stabilization times, please see OIML
R 111-1: 2004 (E) Annex B.4.3 or
ASTM E617-E Table 10.
3. Handle with care
This includes everything from
wearing clean nylon or leather
gloves when touching weights to
using special tweezers with coated
tips to lift them from their resting
places. Beware of objects that can
scratch the surface of the weight,
and take particular care not to
slide the weight across a balance’s
metal weighing pan to avoid micro-
abrasions.
4. Clean according to OIML/ASTM
recommendations
Under ideal circumstances, preci-
sion or mass calibration weights
should never need cleaning. How-
ever, in practice this is not always
the case. Whether you can clean a
weight yourself or not depends on
the weight’s size and process criti-
cality. In general, remove dust with
a specially-designed brush, soft
microfiber cloth, or rubber bellows.
5. Use specialized handles for
bigger weights
Using specialized handles for lifting
does more than protect the weight's
surface finish. It also provides a
more ergonomic lifting experience
to protect the health of the operator.
6. Inspect for damage prior to use
Particularly if you share the weight
set among various shifts or lab
personnel, always check the sur-
face for impurity, corrosion, or
foreign substances before use.
Issues to watch for include dust,
fingerprints, or surface marks. If
necessary, a magnifying glass or
microscope can be used as an as-
sistive aid.
Actions to be avoided to protect test weights
7. Do not touch weights with bare
hands
This is especially critical for
weights with tighter tolerances
and smaller nominal weights. Skin
acids disrupt a weight’s surface.
Experience shows that fingerprints
and the foreign matter they deposit
can affect mass by up to +50 µg
(Figure 1). Non-magnetic, non-
abrasive tweezers or synthetic or
leather gloves are generally rec-
ommended for handling, though
weights of less tight tolerances can
also be handled using clean cotton
gloves.
8. Do not forget periodic
recalibration
Even when weights are handled
with care, they experience wear.
Adhering to recalibration schedules
stipulated by ISO 9001 helps keep
processes accurate. Calibration re-
sults are documented in calibration
certificates with details of conven-
tional mass correction, uncertainty
and traceability information accord-
ing to ISO/IEC 17025.
9. Do not use a weight with dust
or water on its surface
This can be especially problem-
atic if weights have been stored
outside their storage container or
have been brought from one area
to another where temperature and
humidity differ. Allow weights to
acclimatize and/or follow cleaning
recommendations mentioned under
point 4.
10. Do not use a weight when in
doubt
Inspect it first using appropriate
devices (gloves, tweezers, handles,
magnification aid). If marks are
visible, decide whether the marring
will affect accuracy. Under metro-
Figure 1: In extreme cases, fingerprints can permanently affect mass if weights are not cleaned
properly.
logical aspects, traces of marring
are irrelevant when the require-
ments of OIML R 111-1: (2004),
section 11 "Surface Conditions"
are met. (Though when in doubt,
always recalibrate the weight in an
accredited calibration laboratory.)
11. Do not clean with abrasive or
caustic chemicals
Caustic or abrasive substances
can damage the outer surface or
“skin” of the weight. This can de-
crease weight mass by removing
the oxidized layer or increase mass
by causing additional oxidation or
rust. Either way, accuracy is nega-
tively impacted.
12. Do not underestimate static
Electrostatic charges can influence
results. Limit friction between the
weight and other surfaces such as
cleaning tissues. After cleaning or
drying, be sure to allow the weight
to rest to allow static to dissipate.
All METTLER TOLEDO balances are
grounded to eliminate static influ-
ences. Conductive carbon-tipped
tweezers also help eliminate static
charges.
High-quality, FDA-suitable foam inserts do not produce residue,
even after years of use
Weight storage and transport
Test weights are best kept in origi-
nal packaging designed for the pur-
pose. When transported, weights
are carried in specially-built boxes.
METTLER TOLEDO offers a full range
of storage and transportation boxes
which contain appropriate weight
compartments.
Effective weight handling
METTLER TOLEDO offers a full line
of appropriate handling and storage
devices. This includes a range of
ergonomic tweezers to manage
even microgram weights.
Ceramic-tipped tweezers allow han-
dling of weights with diameters as
small as 0.05 mm.
Accredited mass laboratories
Accurately calibrated weights are at
the base of accurate weighing re-
sults. METTLER TOLEDO accredited
mass laboratories clean, calibrate,
and adjust weights, and then docu-
ment the results of our calibration
efforts in a calibration certificate.
The certificate covers the basic re-
porting of conventional

METTLER TOLEDO is currently us-
ing wood, aluminum and plastic
for storage and carrying cases. For
certain cases, aluminum is replac-
ing plastic because it is more ro-
bust. Beech is used when wood is
required, as it is more sustainable
than mahogany.
Conductive carbon-tipped tweezers
help eliminate static charges.
mass correction and documents
uncertainty and traceability infor-
mation in accordance with ISO/IEC
17025 requirements.
All METTLER TOLEDO accredited
mass laboratories meet or exceed
process guidelines stipulated by
ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, GMP regula-
tions.

References
International Recommendation OIML R111-1, OIML, 2004. Downloaded by permission.
“ASTM E617 – 13” American Society for Testing and Materials, 2013. Downloaded by permission.
Cleaning, Handling and Storage of Weights, Good Practice Guide, www.npl.co.uk
Calibration: What is it?, METTLER TOLEDO, 30260955; 05/2015
SOP for Periodic Repeatability Tests (Routine Tests), METTLER TOLEDO, 11793057; 06/2009
Standard procedures of the METTLER TOLEDO Calibration Laboratory, Greifensee, Switzerland

www.mt.com/weights
For more information
Mettler-Toledo AG
CH-8606 Greifensee, Switzerland
Tel. +41-44-944 22 11

Subject to technical changes

© 11/2015 Mettler-Toledo AG
30304785